South London Gay Clubs 1984

Some South London gay clubs 1984: Dover Castle in Deptford Broadway; Market Tavern in Vauxhall, Union Tavern in Camberwell ) - from Capital Gay 24 August 1984

See previously:

Police raid Forest Hill Gay Club 1987

 

Deptford Urban Free Festival 1995

 Deptford Urban Free Festival was a great event that took place in Fordham Park SE14 every summer from 1990 to 1996. It got bigger and bigger, squeezing bands, sound systems and tens of thousands of people into what is quite a small space. I have scanned and uploaded the July 1995 programme on to archive.org (see full thing here).

'you can't kill the spirit' - a reference to the Criminal Justice Act which had come into effect

Just part of the line up - headliners were Skunk Anansie and Asian Dub Foundation, others playing included Back to the Planet, Here and Now and Grateful Dub

Sound systems including RDK Hi-Fi (dub), Innervision (including Liberator and Institute of Goa DJs) and Avit Army ('from South London combine gabba/techno/acid/hard trance and industrial styles. Free parties are the order of the day'. I remember dancing a lot that day.

See also: Deptford Urban Free Festival 1992

New Cross Fire 1981 exhibition at Goldsmiths

The new exhibition at Goldsmiths on the New Cross Fire 1981 differs from previous events in that it has been put together by survivors, relatives and others directly affected by the tragic events which occurred just a few hundred metres down the road.

The exhibition includes poems, reflections, documents and personal artefacts relating to the fire and the subsequent movement of outrage at the racist response to it. It is very moving - a stark reminder of some of the individual lives cut short on 18 January 1981. For instance it includes roller skates belonging to Yvonne Ruddock, whose 16th birthday was being celebrated at the party (at the request of relatives this section of the exhibition is not to be photographed).

The exhibition continues until 27th May 2023, admission is free. To find it go into main building at Goldsmiths - which is open to the public - and follow corridor round to the right. Towards the back of the building you will see the exhibition space on your left.

A benefit concert for the victims held at Lewisham Concert Hall in May 1981, headlined by Sugar Minott.

See previously: New Cross Fire: the Bleakest Moment